Trailer frame and wheel mounting therefor



G. CARRAHER TRAILER FRAME AND WHEEL MOUNTING THEREFOR Filed 0012. 17, 1945 Nov. 15, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

EEUFEE' [WEE/7E? M WM ATTORNEYS.

Nov. 15, 1949 G. CARRAHER TRAILER FRAME AND WHEEL MOUNTING THEREFOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. l7 1.945

INVILUVTOR. 5517555 CHFHHHEF M wwv ATTORNEYS.

N 1 G. cARRAHE-R 2,488,002

TRAILER FRAME AND WHEEL MOUNTING THEREFOR Filed Oct. 17, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 \S/%\M 35 I ////////k 26" \\4\\\ I v GEDRUE ifk ifm A TTORNET 'S.

Patented Nov. 15, 1949 TRAILER FRAME AND WHEEL MOUNTING THEREFOR George Carraher, Wenatchee, Wash., assignor of one-half to Lawrence Lcahy, Wenatchee, Wash.

I Application October 17, 1945, Serial No. 622,809

2 Claims. (01. 280104.5)

My invention relates to improvements in orchard trailer. I

The .principal purpose of the invention is to provide an improved trailer construction for use in orchards and similar areas of such a nature that the loading platform of the trailer can be placed quite low, yet the supporting wheels of the trailer consisting of pairs of wheels in tandem can be given unlimited movement circumferentially of the frame supporting axle so that the trailer can be operated in exceptionally rough ground without difficulty.

My invention is illustrated in connection with a trailer frame which is adapted to be hitched to a tractor and pulled about the orchard for loading fruit boxes and removing them from the orchard. In many orchards very difficult ground conditions are encountered due toditches or other uneven ground levels. It is important in the loading'of the trailer to have the loading platform at all times supported fairly close to the ground. It is also important to have the frame supported by wheels-in such a manner that it is possible to'get good support at a plurality of spaced points lengthwise of the frame. It sometimes occurs that one wheel 'of a tandem pair will rest on a hummock or a high ridge while the other wheel of the pair is in a low spot. The lineconnecting the supports of the two-wheels may be at-an angle of more than 30 degrees to the horizontal. According to my invention I provide wheeled supports to the truck frame which can be rotated with respect to the truck frame thus giving unlimited movement of the wheels in a vertical plane so that they may adapt themselves to any rough ground conditions encountered.

The novel features of my invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and its operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood from the following description of a specific embodiment when read in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of an orchard trailer embodying my invention;

Figure '2 is a view in side elevation of the trailer;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the connections between the trailer frame and the supporting wheels;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view in side elevation of the trailer frame showing the mounting of the axle thereon;

Figure 5 is a side View of the wheel mounting rocker arm and its associated spindle blocks as seen from outside the trailer frame;

Figure 6 is a sectional view takenon the line 0--6 of Figure 5;

Figure '7 is a fragmentary side view of a modification;

Figure 8 is an enlarged sectional view on line 8-8 of Figure '7.

FigureQ is a detail view illustrating ner of connecting the axles, and:

Figure 10 is a detailview illustrating the conventional wheel mounting used.

' Referring now to the drawings and particularly to Figure 1 there is shown an orchard trailer, the main body of which comprises a rectangular framework l0 composed of steel channels. These channels are welded together at the corners and are braced by providing corner gussets II. The frame is reinforced by transversely extending steel channels l2 and I3. The channel I2 together with one of the end channels serves to secure a draw bar M by mounting depending plates [5 and Hi to which the draw bar [4 is welded. The draw bar I4 extending forwardly from the front end of the trailer frame may be provided with any suitable attaching means for attaching it to a tractor. The trailer frame I0 is adapted to be covered by any suitable flooring such as plank so' that'fruit boxes and the like can be sta'cked thereon in the usual manner.

The support for the trailer comprises an axle IT at each side of the frame. These axles I! are mounted to the frame by bearing blocks l8 welded to the underside of the frame and bearing caps l9 which are bolted to the blocks l8 by suitable bolts 20. The axles are connected by a tube 2| into which they extend a substantial distance. The axles are rotatable in the bearing on the frame and in the tube 2! so that either axle may turn independently of the other. As shown in Figure 9, the axles I! extend into the tube 2| and are held against endwise movement by any conventional means such as a groove Ila in the axle and a pin 2la set in the tube 2|.

A rocker arm 22 is provided for each of the axles IT. The two rocker arms are alike so that a description of one will suilice for both. Each rocker arm has an axle sleeve 23 welded to its flange and the axle sleeve is further braced by welding two braces 24 and 25 to the under surfaces of the sleeve and to the rocker arm at a distance from the sleeve. The rocker arm is also made of a steel channel of the same size as the trailer frame. The sleeve 23 is secured on the the man axle by providing a lock ring 26 at the outer end of the axle l1 and fixing the lock ring in position by a cotter pin 21.

Each rocker arm carries two spindle blocks 28 and 29 at its opposite ends. These blocks are made up of separate channel shaped sections 30 and. 3| which have their edge faces welded as indicated at 32. (see Figure 6). A wheel-spindle 33 is welded to the spindle block and has a cylindrical section 34 to which the wheel axle is attached. The wheel mounting is conventional. Figure 10 illustrates how the. wheelaxle43 is. clamped to the spindle 33.

The construction just described provides two wheels 35 and 36 in tandem oneach-rocker arm. The rocker arms are free to rotate throughout a complete revolution about. theaxle- 11, Thus the wheels can shift from the full line position shown in Figure 2 to such a position as the dotted line position shown in Figure 2.

The construction-"provides an additional feature'inthat the trailer frame can be carried at two different levels-by the same tandem Wheels. Iffor example, the rockermarm is rotated 2130 degrees about the axle I! it will be beneath the axle-H instead of over it: asshown in "Figure 2. The net result will be to raise the frame an amount equal to the distance fromv the-axle to the top of the rocker arm 22. This feature of theinventiommay also. be realized on sloping ground to raise one. side. of the trailer frame to a higher levelr-thanthe other.

The principal feature: of the invention however, lies in the-fact that the rocker arms are so mounted as to enablethe wheels to adjust themselves to great variations in ground level at any time, thus one pair of tandem. wheels may have; the front wheel on. a, hummock and the rear wheel in the. ditch while exactly the opposite condition exists with-respect totheother pair of tandem. wheels. In all conditions the direction of pnllon the frame will be at any advantageous angle with; respect: to'the. surfaces on which the pair. of wheelsrests.

In Figures. '7 and-8 there is shown. a modified formof the invention wherein-the trailer frame H). has a supporting channel 3:? welded to its lower flange. A heavy bushing 38%. is flattened at the top and welded to the lower flange of the channel; 31. The axlel'l' extendsthrough this bushing and through a sleeve that. is set into an aperture 40 in the rocker arm 22' and welded in place. A support brace 4| is L-shaped in cross section. The short leg of the brace is welded to the frame I0 and the long leg of the brace extends down to the axle at the outer end of the sleeve 39. The brace is bifurcated at its lower end to fit over the axle H. A tie plate 42 is; welded to the brace and-the frame to give the brace additional strength. This modified form uses the same lock ring 26' for securing the axle as the main form of the invention. The axles H are extended into the tube 2| in the same manner as in the main form of the invention. The rocker arm however cannot rotate in this .form. of the invention since the brace 41: is; inthe way.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

I. A trailer for use in orchards and the like comprising, a framework having oppositely disposed steel channels forming side frame members, an, axle bearing welded. to .theunderside of each frame member, an axle rotatable in each bearing, tubular means receiving the inner. ends of said axles. and connecting them togetherra.

steel channel rocker arm positioned against the.-

outside of each of saidbearings. and. side frame. member and having an axle sleeve welded; thereto. and abutting the bearing, and wheels mount ng. the. opposite ends .of said rocker arms;

2. A trailer and wheel mounting therefor .com prising steel channel side frames and. cross. frame. members, an axle bearing secured on each side frame. two. wheel. supported rocker-arms, each having two supporting wheels. rotatably mountedv thereon, at the ends. thereof, .axles. centrally mounted on. each arm and extending into. said bearings, and. a tube extending across the space. between the side frames, and receiving the. ends of said axles. inwardly of the side frames.

GEORGE. CARRAHER.

REFERENCES CITED Thefollowln-g reierences are of recordinvthe file of. this patent:

STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 87,055 Lunsiord Feb. l6,l869' 1,926,334 Gurton Septpl2, 1933 2,260,574 Martin Oct. 28,1941. 

